The unusual attractions of Paris

It must be said that Paris is many wonderful things: beautiful, romantic, impressive, quaint, cutting-edge and maybe clean some would say? This is because the Paris sewers are amongst the oldest and most well developed in the western world. You may be asking what on earth the city’s sewer system has to do with informing you of what to do while in the capital! Well, the Paris sewers have bin a tourist attraction since 1967 and date back years before that, as far back as the 13th century to be correct. If you ever decide that the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or the Louvre aren’t interesting enough, then I sincerely recommend that you give the ‘Musée des égouts de Paris’ or the slightly worse sounding, ‘Paris sewer Museum’ a visit. The museum is located in the sewers themselves, just below the Quai d’Orsay and hosts some of the oldest mechanical conveyor belts in Europe; these supposedly served as inspiration for today’s metro system. The museum is open every day except for Thursdays and Fridays, when maintenance work is carried out (in order for the smell to be kept at a bearable level), from 11-5 in the months of May through to September, and from 11-4 the rest of the year. The entrance price to the museum is 4,10 euros for adults, and 3,30 euros for children between 5-16; children under 5 get in for free. The museum is very flexible and you can explore the place by yourselves or you can take one of the many foreign language tours available throughout the months of summer. You should also note that the museum is closed for two weeks every January due to maintenance work. Paris hotels and Paris apartments are a plenty around this area and it really is a prime location. But it depends on weather or not staying above the sewers turns your stomach!

Paris is recognized as one of the world’s most romantic destinations. It would therefore be almost sacrilegious to not mention any of the best romantic activities while writing this guide. However, I shall not be mentioning the ever familiar Parisian restaurants, the Eiffel Tower or the numerous boat trips down the Seine. To be truly introduced to the capital of Love, you need to look deeper! Food is often said to be the way to a mans heart, and women often drool at the sight of a tablecloth and candles, especially when mentioned in the same sentence as Paris. So, what I propose is that you take one of the numerously available cookery classes and learn how to recreate these romantic candlelight dinners yourselves. Prices vary from class to class and there is a price to suit everyone. If you really want to push the boat out and learn how the masters do it, then the famous chef, Eric Fraudeau’s classes are for you. Here, for the price of up to $299 (around 200 euros, this is the most expensive! There are many options) you will learn how to cook some mouthwatering dishes such as Goat cheese salad with rosemary, Sautéed scallops, saffron cream sauce and endives with honey, Moelleux au chocolat, Caramel Poached Pear, Chocolate and vanilla Crème Brulée, and Honey Madeleine Monkfish with mussels, and cream curry sauce. However, if your budget dose not stretch to such extravagances then I suggest one of the more modest classes. You can join Countess Rosabelle in her very own Parisian kitchen, in her Paris accommodation, and learn how to cook many traditional French specialties, like: Poulet basquaise, Tarte Tatin, Saute de veau au fenouil, Souffle au chocolat, Filet mignon de porc aux pommes et aux epices, Crepes a la confiture, Magret de canard au miel, Tarte au citron, Poissons aux herbes en papillotes and Creme brulee. This class will cost you around 80-90 pounds and is well worth the money.

The Zadkine Museum Paris

The words Paris and culture come as a pair; numerous Paris museums, quaint Paris buildings, Paris apartments and historical monuments leave reminders of the very people who shaped the French society and culture as we know it. Therefore, the entrance price for cultural activities such as trips to museums can be far too high for smaller budgets. With this in mind, certain highly acclaimed museums organize free entrance days. Every Friday night from 6p.m onwards, entrance to the Louvre is free for anyone under 26 years old and to the unemployed, and the first Sunday of every month, entrance is free for all. The Orsay museum offers free entrance to anyone aged 18 to 25 from 6p.m onwards. However, most Parisian museums offer free entrance every day to everyone; you do not have to pay to visit the permanent exhibitions of Zadkine, marshal Leclerc of Hauteclocque’s memorial nor the Jean Moulin museum to name a few.

The Zadkine Museum

Originaly from Russia, Ossip Zadkine came to Paris in 1908 and worked from this historical building from 1928 until his death in 1967. The collection, composing of more than 400 sculptures, sketches, gouaches, designs, photos and documentaries retrace the entire journey of this master. The museum is hidden behind lush greenery, which adds to its mystery and to the enchantment of its visitors. Zadkine’s museum is a charming and historic place that continues to shine and send artistic vibes that encourages ongoing artistic creation. A centre of experimentation and of production, the studio where Zadkine received his students has since welcomed dozens of artists and therefore still serves its original purpose. The museum is open for visitors from Tuesdays to Sundays between 10a.m and 6p.m at 100 Assas street, not far from the superb Gardens of Luxemburg, where you will appreciate the amazing fountains and landscapes. Do not hesitate to visit the Panthéon and the impressing Sorbonne University that will lead you towards Saint Michel and all its bars and restaurants; all a short journey away from the Zakine museum. You could even reserve your Paris accommodation in the Latin Quarter in order to fully take advantage of the countries capital.

The memorial of Marshal Leclerc of Hautecloque and the liberation of Paris – The Jean Moulin museum

Often considered as one of the main heroes of the Resistance, jean Moulin is buried at Panthéon where the most valiant men of the French republic rest. The museum retraces the steps of the two emblematic characters of the second world war, such as Marshal Leclerc of Hauteclocque and Jean Moulin. The journeys of these two great men are followed with contemporary museography, looking at exterior factors of the

Second World War and of the dark hours seen in France. A wall of images, compiled of audiovisual archives leads the visitors through a world of Parisian history: occupied Paris, rising Paris and finally free Paris. The museum is situated at 23, 2e avenue DB, at the heart of the Jardin Atlantique, in the 15^th arrondissement near Montparnasse station. The area is a prime location for classic French culture, so it is advisable to book one of the numerous Paris hotels near by.

La menagerie du jardin des plantes Paris

With its amazing architecture, dated back to the XVIII and XIX century, ´Le Jardin des Plantes` zoo is the oldest zoo in the world conserving its original location. The zoo offers 55000 m2 of botanical gardens which provides Paris accomodation to thousands of animals.

Created at the end of the 18th century, the zoo has the aim of protecting, conserving and discovering a diversity of species of animals. The animals were sent to the zoo from the Duke of Orléans’s ´La Ménagerie Royale de Versailles; they were taken from the showman when animal street performances were abolished.

Over the years the zoo has grown to include a bear enclosure, various bird cages, a reptile park and more. As the zoo is not very large, it’s principally concerned with the smaller species but is able to boast, 270 mammals of 50 species, 200 reptiles of 40 species, 330 birds of 80 species and 200 amphibians and 1200 invertebrates, all of which help educate the zoo’s youngest visitors. At the heart of your visit to this magnificent attraction you will discover a menagerie of species, colours, furs and feathers.

Snaking through the diverse areas of the park you will find apes, a lions den, a cosy reptile house and even a miniature farm. Full of life and growth, the park is a universe in its self. Taking care of this beautiful space are around 60 people (carers, vets and environmentalists) who can be relied upon 24hours a day.

Don’t miss the bears getting fed every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at around 4p.m. As in every respectable zoo, this menagerie has its stars: like Kiki the giant one hundred year old tortoise and all of his friends, Nénette the orang-utan and his family, the reptiles, the big cats, the crocodiles, the pink flamingos, the birds of pray, and the equally astonishing lamas and donkeys.

Entry to the park is 7euros (if you buy three tickets, you get the fourth on offer) and 5 euros for discounted entry; large families, children between 4-13 years old and groups larger than 10 people. Entry is free for children under 4 years old, the disabled, RMI members and employers of the park.

Useful information:

Access to the park can be found on the following streets:

La rue Cuvier, rue Buffon, rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, and place Valhubert

Make sure to find your Paris Hotel early

Buses to the park: 24, 57, 61, 63, 67, 89 and 91

Batobus/tourist bus: get off at Jardin des Plantes

Metro: line 5 – Austerlitz station, line 7 – Censier Daubenton station and line 10 – Jussieu or Austerlitz station

RER C

SNCF: Austerlitz and Lyon station

Opening times: from 9 a.m to 6 p.m

Note:

Your entrance ticket to the zoo will gain you free access to the temporary exposition of ´l´atoll Aldabra`, situated in the heart of the Indian Ocean and still one of the biggest intact natural sanctuaries. At this brand new exposition that awaits you (until the 9<sup>th</sup> of November 2008) at ´la Rotonde de la Ménagerie`, families can discover this unique environment and be introduced to the exposition’s safeguard of the planet scheme. Note that the exposition closes half an hour before the zoo.